NEWS . . .

Hillgrove won this year’s Navy JROTC Orienteering Championship in Ague Dulce, California. The annual competition brings the best orienteers from nearly 600 NJROTC units from around the country together.

Story by Sally Litchfield, Marietta Daily Journal

Hillgrove High School Navy JROTC cadets are national champions. Twenty-nine Orienteering teams from all corners of the country recently converged on Vasquez Rocks Natural Area in Agua Dulce, California, near Los Angeles, where Hillgrove won this year’s Navy JROTC Orienteering Championship. The annual competition brings the best orienteers from nearly 600 NJROTC units from around the country together to test their navigation skills in locating controls (checkpoints) in unfamiliar and rough terrain with only the aid of a map and a compass.

Hillgrove’s cadets made their fourth consecutive appearance at the national competition and were one of five schools representing Georgia and Northeast FL. After finishing third, second, and second in the nation the past three years, Hillgrove’s Orienteers were able to take the final step in capturing their first Championship; and, they did it in dominating fashion.

Hillgrove nearly swept all team categories, with the Varsity team easily capturing first, Junior Varsity placing second and the Freshman finishing first. Overall, Hillgrove captured a total of 480 of a possible 500 points, well ahead of the second place total of 370. Individually, 11 of Hillgrove’s 14 competitors received medals, all placing in the top five for the two-day competition, in their respective categories.

Outstanding individual performances were turned in by Jacob Gallichio, who is the male Varsity champion, and Mason Blum, who finished second. Jennifer Harnage is the female Varsity champion for the second consecutive year, with Mary Smith finishing second. In the female JV category, Nadia Daraseng captured the title, with Elena Mortensen finishing second and Eslen Trumble fifth. Peyton Valencia was fifth in the male JV category and in the 9th grade division, Keyana Fields won the girls competition and Luke Ballentine and Lucas Schultz finished third and fifth, respectively.

Cadets, most of whom had never traveled to California, also had the opportunity to explore the area with visits to see the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a day at Universal Studios. Hillgrove’s cadets and parents would like to thank the individuals and local businesses that supported them with generous donations made to help offset the significant cost of travel. While enjoying their new title of National Champions, Hillgrove’s cadets are already preparing to defend their title at next year’s nationals, currently planned for Eastern Pennsylvania.

For over 25 years the Atlanta Metro Council has participated in the Annual Memorial Day Wreath Lying ceremony at Marietta National Cemetery. It is a day to remember and honor all the men and woman who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.

This year, Council Director and Treasurer CAPT Bob Wise, USNR (Ret.) had help from cadets in the Warrior Division and NARS B-1 units. A little drizzle did not stop these cadets from participating. Also attending were a Commanding Officer and two Chiefs.

Mark Pimpo currently serves as a Business Consultant for Chick-fil-A Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining the Chick-fil-A team, he worked for Under Armour, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was the Global Supply Chain Chief of Staff and Senior Director for Sourcing, Connected Fitness Products. Mark served in the United States Navy for 27 years as a Supply Corps Officer, retiring as a Captain. His tours of duty included service on surface combatants, submarines, and with Special Operations Forces. His last assignment on active duty was as Commanding Officer, Navy Supply Corps School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Mark attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a BS in Political Science and was Co-Captain of the 1988 Navy Football Team. He received his MBA from Brenau University and earned a Masters degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Mark is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and enjoys playing golf, mixed doubles tennis, large mouth bass fishing, and is a passionate Cleveland sports fan. He and his wife, Tracy, live in Newnan, Georgia and they love spending time with family & friends, as well as supporting their church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They have two grown children, McCall and Demetrius.

Local area Sea Cadet, Chief Petty Officer Hunter Ferrell of the 233rd Seabee Battalion, was honored in her hometown on August 1st. Ferrell was invited to the Covington City Council Meeting where she was recognized for her accomplishments in Sea Cadets (having been pinned as a CPO in May) and for outstanding service to her community, (accumulating more than 450 volunteer hours). To her surprise, Mayor Ronnie Johnston proclaimed August 1, 2016 as Hunter Cheyenne Ferrell Day in the City of Covington. An honor that will not soon be forgotten!

The Atlanta Metropolitan Council of the Navy League of the United States held it’s 23rd Annual Youth Awards Banquet May 12. It is the biggest council event of the year and is the culmination of a year of hard work, learning, competition, community service and fun for over 3,500 cadets, almost 100 Naval Science instructors, and numerous family and friends. The Atlanta Council supports 45 high schools with Navy and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) units and eight Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) units, all of which were eligible for the awards.

The winners of the JROTC Outstanding Cadet of the Year (COY) award were: Outstanding COY to c/LCOL Bryan Garcia of North Forsyth High School MCJROTC, two Runners-up were c/LT Jordan Rogers of Allatoona High School NJROTC and c/LCDR Gabriel Dickerson of Chapel Hill High School NJROTC, and Honorable Mention to c/LCDR Abigail Martinez of Eagle’s Landing High School NJROTC. Each of the winners received a monetary gift as part of the award. These awards were presented by South Atlantic Region President and Atlanta council member Jeff Alexander.

The winners of the NSCC Outstanding William T. Schwendler Award for Excellence were: Outstanding COY to c/CPO Gabriel Liranzo of the Pathfinder Excursion Squadron, Runner-up to c/CPO Andrew Purcell of the 233rd Seabee Battalion, and Honorable Mention to c/PO2 Florence Gaillard of the Delta Force Division. Each of the winners received a monetary gift as part of the award. These awards were presented by William T. Schwendler, Jr.

In addition to these individual awards, the Jason E. Lawson Trophy for Outstanding NSCC Unit went to the Warrior Division led by LT William Golden, Commanding Officer, NSCC and attended by c/PO1 Jon Davis and SR Zion Hilton. This award is named for Navy Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Lawson who was killed when the SH-60B helicopter he was flying in crashed off the coast of Greece March 12, 2002. He previously was a member of the NARS B-1 Squadron. This award was presented by LCDR Eric Farland, NSCC Regional Director.

Two new events were added to the program this year, according to Diane Ritter, Vice President Public Affairs.

Council member Don Giles, Vice President Legislative Affairs, shared with the audience how proud the council was in joining the more than 9,700 local, state and federal organizations that have come alongside the Department of Defense as Commemorative Partners with the Vietnam War Commemoration. Giles said “We are committed to assisting the nation in thanking and honoring our 7.2 million living Vietnam veterans and the families of the 9 million who served.” This year the council invited Youth Award Banquet attendees who served in the Vietnam War to step forward and be recognized for their service and sacrifice and receive a Vietnam War Commemoration pin. The audience personally “welcomed home” these valiant veterans with a standing ovation. Receiving pins were: Senior Chief Petty Officer Brian Fleming, USN (Ret), CAPT Joe Wilkinson, USNR (Ret), CDR Steve Frederick, USN (Ret), CAPT Harley Jones, USNR (Ret), Aviation Machinist Mate First Class Ray Torres, USN NAC/AW (Ret), LCDR James Hunter, USNR (Ret), Grandfather of a Cadet, CAPT H. Robert Wise, Jr, USNR (Ret), LT Richard Evelyn, USNR (Ret), Aviation Electricians Mate 2nd Class Dale Mastley, USN (Ret), and CAPT Donald Giles USN (Ret). The commemoration pins were presented by Jeff Alexander.

This year’s keynote Speaker was Representative Joe Wilkinson (Georgia House District 52). He retired after a career as an executive at The Coca-Cola Company, and also retired as a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He worked in the White House Press Office under Presidents Ford and Reagan, and he is a Desert Storm veteran. Representative Wilkinson has visited more than 40 countries and has been a guest lecturer on international affairs to college and high school students for the past 25 years.

GA REP Joe Wilkinson

In his speech, Representative Wilkinson shared a few stories from his time in the Navy Reserves. He emphasized a few things they should remember. He asked that they go home and read about and learn about Congressman Carl Vinson, a son of Georgia, who had an “amazing life of dedication to this country.” Observing the audience, he said he was so proud and so impressed with the cadets’ uniforms and appearance. He encouraged them to always be the sharpest and good looking person in their unit. He stressed that all the cadets should work with their parents and physician to develop a lifetime plan for physical fitness. Work hard to set the best standard. He also told the cadets to “never, ever forget these dedicated people who have been your JROTC or Sea Cadet officers and instructors. You owe them and your parents so much and the best way to repay them is to go on into great careers.” In closing, Representative Wilkinson thanked the audience for allowing him to be a part of this very special night. “I congratulate you on your achievements, but it’s only the beginning. You are going to be writing successful and exciting chapters in your lives. I bid you fair winds and calm seas.”

LCDR Dennis Wonders, Sprayberry High School Senior Navy Science Instructor, presented an emotional reflection on the life of a prior NJROTC cadet. On July 16, 2015 a terrorist attack took place at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga, TN. The aftermath left four Marines and one Navy man killed. One of those Marines was Lance Corporal Squire “Skip” Wells.

Before he was a Marine, Skip was a long time member of the Sprayberry High School Band and enrolled in the NJROTC unit his senior year, 2011-2012. Wonders wanted to say a few words about what kind of person he was - just to remember him. “Our unit started in 2009 and by 2010 Skip started hanging around, checking us out. He liked what he saw especially the camaraderie and how tight everyone was. So, his senior year he decided to join the program. Let me tell you, when he came aboard, he really came alive, inspiring the cadets around him. He helped our unit become the best athletic unit in all of Area 12. So, it was no surprise afterward when he told me he was going to enlist in the Marine Corps.

LCDR Wonders added that over the past year the unit felt that Skip was always with them. It motivated the cadets as well as the instructors to work harder than ever, which resulted in their making it to the Navy National Championship and earning their first Navy Distinguished Unit award.

The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Dale Mastley, VP of Youth Programs, the Parade of Colors was provided by Kennesaw Mountain High School NJROTC unit, the Pledge of Allegiance was lead by LT William Golden and the Invocation and Benediction were provided by CAPT Wayne Radloff, U.S. Navy (Ret).

Atlanta Metropolitan Council NLUS

Atlanta Metropolitan Council, The Navy League of the United States was organized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation in 1946. As a civilian group in support of the sea services, we try to make a difference in matters important to our National Defense.